Lois Thompson has demonstrated extraordinary leadership, compassion, and a deep commitment to advancing equity and restorative justice.

After clerking for two federal judges, Lois began her career as a civil rights attorney, challenging exclusionary zoning to ensure working families had access to housing. As a nationally recognized litigator and partner at Proskauer Rose LLP, Lois set legal precedents in both state and federal courts, including securing a historic $2 billion insurance settlement to help rebuild following the destruction of the Twin Towers on September 11, 2001.

Lois’s unwavering dedication to justice extends well beyond her legal practice. She has devoted countless hours to pro bono work—advising the City of Los Angeles Gang Reduction and Youth Development Office, advocating for victims of sexual assault, and leading the fight against school discrimination in Tucson, earning recognition from the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund for her impact.

A champion for women and marginalized communities, Lois has served as past President and board member of the California Women’s Law Center and Chair of the Western Center on Law & Poverty. At Western Justice Center, Lois’s years of dedicated leadership have been instrumental—she has spearheaded major initiatives, co-chaired our recent Strategic Planning process, and helped shape an expansive and ambitious vision for the organization’s future. Her visionary leadership continues to inspire and build movements for justice, equity, and opportunity, transforming lives and institutions.